Food news you need to know

The warmer days are here so we can start relishing wining and dining outdoors. Photo / 123RF

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Spring wines have sprung
The sun has been doing its best to beat the clouds down this week, and we've been enjoying the crisp, sweet tastes of the latest Spring offerings. First up, Brancott Estate have added two new beauties to their low alcohol Flight range - a delightfully smooth rose with hints of honey and red berries; and a sparkling sauvignon blanc that smells of passionfruit and tastes of the tropics. We sampled a glass of each while lapping up the sunbeams and nibbling on finger sandwiches and fairy cakes this week. Each bottle is 9 per cent ABV and priced at $17.29.

The second exciting wine development this week landed on our desk in the form of six baby bottles of vino, with a plastic clip-on cup all packed up in a tidy chilly bag. This new Nano collection of single serve wines comes care of Sileni Estates. They promise to be high quality wines with packaging that protects the goodness inside and all totally recyclable. Pick between a sav, a pinot noir or a rose, for $5 a bottle. Perfect for picnicking we think.

Brand new brew house
We pulled up a stool this week at the latest craft beer house to open it's doors - 16 TUN. First, we had to ask - what's with the name? Bar manager Andrew Ranum explained it's inspired by an old country and western drinking song. Makes sense. The heavy oak furnishings and polished wall-to-ceiling copper gave the pub, nestled under the ASB Building on Jellicoe Street, a cosy brewhouse feel. Ranum and fellow beer expert Matthew Kelly have very proudly handpicked the selection of New Zealand only beers - there's ten on tap and 50 bottled up behind the bar. To go with your brew pick from the 'half tun' or 'full tun' offerings on the menu - we sampled the smaller sides and can back up the goodness of the smokey pork sliders with apple chutney and BBQ sauce teamed with The Big Smoke Smoked Porter and also liked the spicy horipito chicken morsels washed down with an Epic Hop Zombie.

Treat yourself at O'Connell Street Bistro
Legendary Auckland establishment O'Connel Street Bistro will put on a very flash four course truffle menu matched with extremely rare 15-year-old malt scotch, guided by Sam Snead and Nigel Kelly from The House of Whiskey. The star on the beverage list - a Tobermory 15 year-old Old Malt Cask whisky bottled at 50% abv - one of only 289 bottles available world-wide. To tease your tastebuds - the truffle menu will include scampi starter and a roasted pheasant main. Tickets will set you back $190 per person for the dinner, on September 29. To make a booking call 09 377 1884 or email info@oconnellstbistro.com.

Taste of Auckland tickets on sale
The Taste of Auckland food & wine festival will set up camp in its new home at Western Springs this year - a move we're gleeful about. Running from November 13 to 16, the first details of this year's event have been slipped to us - Australian celebrity sommelier Matt Skinner will be back to share his smarts once again as will one of our favourite local chefs, the handsome Josh Emett. There's talk of a Mumm champagne lounge and a tea sensology experience. We're in! Earlybird tickets from $20 are available from www.tasteofauckland.co.nz.

- www.nzherald.co.nz